Missing Children Publication Hub

The publications in this section contain the results of our research as well as curated research on topics and issues relevant to missing children in Europe and the world. Example of the type of research you can find are understanding the causes of the different types of missing children cases in Europe, policy on missing children, search and rescue operations and family support. The menu and submenu options below will help you find what you're looking for.

If you'd like to share relevant research with us, please send the title, a link and description of the research to info@missingchildreneurope.eu.

Heading back to harm A study on trafficked and unaccompanied children going missing from care in the UK(by Andrea Simon, Chloe Setter,Lucy Holmes)

Through this year-long study, ECPAT UK and Missing People have discovered that an alarmingly high number of both unaccompanied asylumseeking children and children who may have been trafficked go missing from care. Many have not been found. Local authorities with responsibility for the care of these children are frequently not able to report how many unaccompanied and trafficked children are in their care, and many failed to identify any child trafficking victims.

SUMMIT REPORT: Best practices and key challenges on interagency cooperation to safeguard unaccompanied children from going missing by Federica Toscano, Karen Shalev Greene

According to Europol, 10,000 unaccompanied migrant children have disappeared within hours of being registered and only a handful have been found since. The study calls for improved cooperation between law enforcement, social workers in shelters and reception centres, guardians, hotlines for missing children and other parties to better prevent and respond to the disappearance of unaccompanied children.

Children on the Move, Family Tracing and Needs Assessment - Guidelines for Better Cooperation between Professionals Dealing With Unaccompanied Foreign Children in Europe - relatorio da IJJO by Anon

The report suggests some practical steps to favour the creation of a more connected network of practitioners and associations, to foster cooperation in practice as well as on a more strategic level.

Sans Papiers- The Social and Economic Lives of Young Undocumented Migrants by Alice Bloch, Nando Sigona, Roger Zetter

Sans Papiers combines a contemporary account of the theoretical and policy debates with an in-depth exploration of the lived experiences of undocumented migrants in the UK from Zimbabwe, China, Brazil, Ukraine and Turkish Kurdistan.

Into independence, not out of care 16 plus care options by Anon

An inquiry into the child protection system in England (2012) expressed concern about the level and quality of support received by older young people in, or on the edge of, the care system. The current Staying Put policy applies only to looked after young people living in foster care.

Guardianship systems for children deprived of parental care in the European Union by

This report explores the key features of guardianship systems put in place to cater for the needs of all children in need of protection, including child victims and those at risk of becoming victims of trafficking in human beings or of other forms of exploitation. The research covers four specific areas, namely the type of guardianship systems in place, the profile of appointed guardians, the appointment procedures, and the tasks of the guardians.

The link between: Trafficked children and missing by

Every year approximately 250,000 people are reported missing to the police and other agencies across the UK. About two thirds of these reports will be children under 18 (Home Office: 2010), and a proportion of will have been victims of trafficking.

On my own: The accommodation needs of young people leaving care in England by Anon

Qualitative research with young people who have used a range of Barnardo's services to find accommodation.

A study of the communication channels used by migrants and asylum seekers in Italy, with a particular focus on online and social media by European Commission

A study of the communication channels used by migrants and asylum seekers in Italy, with a particular focus on online and social media

Handbook on European law relating to asylum, borders and immigration by Anon

It is designed to assist legal practitioners at national and European level, including lawyers, judges, prosecutors, border guards, immigration officials and others working with national authorities, as well as non-governmental organisations and other bodies.

Guidelines on the Applicable Criteria and Standards relating to the Detention of Asylum-Seekers and Alternatives to Detention by UNHCR

Guidelines on the Applicable Criteria and Standards relating to the Detention of Asylum-Seekers and Alternatives to Detention

Forging a common path: A European approach to the integration of refugees and asylum-seekers by International Rescue Committee Brussels Office

The report argues that the EU is at a unique turning point at which it is vital to invest in the integration of people who have sought protection here, and that the institutions have a key role in putting this into practice. The implementation of the European Commission’s Action Plan on Integration coming to an end in 2018, ongoing discussions about the restructuring of EU funding for integration and a new Commission in 2019 create an ideal moment to reflect on the shape and extent of future EU action on integration. After providing an overview of the current situation of refugees and asylum-seekers in the EU in Section II, the report aims to contribute to this process by highlighting good practices and suggesting some fundamental considerations informed by the IRC’s many decades of experience in supporting the integration of people seeking protection internationally, in the U.S. and in Europe.

Trafficking along Migration Routes to Europe: Bridging the Gap between Migration, Asylum and Anti-Trafficking by Roberto Forin, International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and Claire Healy (ICMPD).

Trafficking along Migration Routes to Europe:
Bridging the Gap between Migration, Asylum and Anti-Trafficking

Promoting Inclusion for Unaccompanied Young Asylum Seekers and Immigrants: A DUTY OF JUSTICE AND CARE by Terry Smith

The report of a two year transnational project involving government, local authorities NGOs and young asylum seekers.